Owner offers $10K reward for stolen 1960 Impala convertible

SAN DIEGO (FOX 5/KUSI) -- A South Bay man is offering a $10,000 reward for the return of his prized 1960 Chevrolet Impala, which was stolen from outside his Imperial Beach home earlier this month.

Peter Ricciardo said the classic red-and-white convertible isn’t just a car to him — it’s a family heirloom he dreamed of owning since childhood.

“It’s been in my blood to have an Impala convertible since the ’60s,” Ricciardo said.

Ricciardo’s love for Impalas began when he was a boy growing up in the 1960s, watching his older brother work on his own blue-and-white model used for drag racing. After years of saving, Ricciardo said he finally bought his dream car at an auction in 2022 and named it “Baby.”

“I’m a baby of a large family,” he said. “So I would always just go out there and say, ‘OK Baby, time to take a ride.’”

Ricciardo said he spent roughly $100,000 restoring the vehicle, which features a Chevy 348 triple-deuce engine and factory air conditioning — a rare feature for the time. He proudly showcased it at car clubs and lent it out for events and photo shoots.

“We’ve done quinceañeras in it,” Ricciardo said. “I don’t charge for it — I just like to get her out there and get her seen.”

But around 2 a.m. on Oct. 21, surveillance images from Ricciardo’s Ring camera captured someone breaking the lock on the car cover and pushing the Impala down Calla Avenue before disappearing into the night.

Ricciardo said he has since visited local body shops and mechanics, hoping someone might recognize the car if it turns up for repairs. Sheriff’s investigators are reviewing nearby surveillance footage but have not located the vehicle.

Desperate for leads, Ricciardo turned to social media, offering a $10,000 reward for information leading to the car’s recovery and the arrest of those responsible.

“We’re trying to have the internet do its thing,” he said. “Hopefully somebody sees it. Maybe somebody who took it is watching. I just want my car back.”

Ricciardo said the Impala holds deep sentimental value to his family, and he hoped to one day pass it down to his children and grandchildren.

Anyone with more information is asked to contact Crime Stoppers. Tipsters may also be eligible for an additional reward of up to $1,000.